Proposed 2026 budget has drawn criticism after public accountability group Tracka disclosed that ₦8.05 billion ($5.7 million) was earmarked for the construction, renovation and equipping of churches and mosques despite mounting fiscal pressures and a widening budget deficit.

Tracka, an initiative of the BudgIT Foundation, said its review of the proposed ₦68.32 trillion budget uncovered ₦1.91 billion allocated to seven church-related projects and ₦6.14 billion for 52 mosque projects across several ministries and agencies without direct responsibility for religious affairs.

The organisation said the allocations covered the construction and rehabilitation of worship centres, solar power installations, boreholes, musical equipment for churches, carpets, imam residences and facilities for Islamiyya schools.

Among the projects identified were ₦1 billion for musical and cultural equipment for churches in Abia State and another ₦1 billion for solar power installations at mosques in Zamfara North.

The revelations prompted criticism from civil society groups and social media users, who questioned the government’s spending priorities at a time when Nigeria faces a ₦31.45 trillion budget deficit, rising debt obligations and growing demands for investment in healthcare, education and infrastructure.

The Northern Christian Association (NCA) also raised concerns over what it described as an imbalance in the distribution of the allocations.

“The imbalance has raised serious concerns about equity, fairness, and equal treatment of all Nigerians, regardless of their religious affiliation,” NCA Chairman Joseph Hayab said in a statement.

While stressing that the association was not opposed to government support for religious projects, Hayab urged the federal government to review the allocations to ensure fairness, transparency and adherence to constitutional principles.

Nigeria’s 2026 budget, tagged the “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity”, is based on projected revenue of about ₦34 trillion against planned expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion.

Tracka urged citizens to monitor the implementation of projects in their communities, while there has been no immediate response from the presidency or the ministries linked to the allocations.